Todays Lesson:

Cell Specialization
Video:

https://youtu.be/cyaVEotYsY0

Where are we in this course?

Organisms made up of
Unicellular Organisms (ie.
amoeba)
Only one cell
Can survive and function
with one cell
Simpler organisms (no
tissues, organs, systems)

Multicellular Organisms (You and me)

Has many (specialized) cells

that work as a group to
function (hierarchy)
Specialized cells cannot
survive on their own
Complex (tissues, organs,
systems)

Hierarchy of Animals
The complexity of an organism depends on a
hierarchy of organization within an animal.

What is Cell Specialization?

Cells in our bodies are different and each type
specializes in a particular function.
Specialized cells (ie. bone cells) group together to
form tissues (ie. bone tissue)
These tissues form organs (ie. bones) which are
components of
Specific body systems (ie. skeletal system).
Example: Bone cells are different than red blood
cells why? Because their function differs to that of
red blood cells.

What is Cell Specialization?

What we have learned so far: the cell and its organelles,
based on what a typical cell looks like.
BUT Most cells dont look like the typical textbook cell.
Why? Because the structure and shape of a cell is based
on its functions.
E.g. That is why cells in your blood look different than cells in
your bones.

Specialized Cells found in your

body
Red Blood Cells
Function: Has hemoglobin which carries
oxygen in blood
Shape: Disc-shaped and smooth so they
can easily pass through blood
vessels.

Specialized Cells found in your

body
White Blood Cells
Function: Protect our bodies by
engulfing bacteria to
fight infection.
Shape: Irregularly shaped

Specialized Cells found in your

body
Skin Cells
Function: To protect cells inside our
bodies, reduce water loss
and control body temperature
Shape: Flat and scale-like, arranged in
tight layers.

Specialized Cells found in your

body
Bone Cells
Function: Collects calcium from food
and grows and repairs bones.
Shape: Cuboidal and columnar

Specialized Cells found in your

body
Muscle Cells (there are different types)
Function: Contracts, allowing us to
move our bodies.
Shape: Contain many mitochondria,
arranged in bundles called fibres

Specialized Cells found in your

body
Sperm Cells
Function: Carry DNA from the male
parent.
Shape: Flat disc-like head with a tail
allowing it to move
independently.

Specialized Cells found in your

body
Egg Cells
Function: Contains DNA from the
female parent.
Shape: Oval; the only animal cell you
can see with the naked eye.

Specialized Cells found in your

body
Fat Cells
Function: Stores fat molecules our
bodies cannot make on our
own, for a source of energy.
Shape: Resemble large droplets

Specialized Cells found in your

body
Nerve Cells
Function: Conduct electrical impulses
to coordinate body activity.
Shape: Long, thin and have many
branches to send information
from one part of the body to
another

Why is Cell Specialization

Important?
If there was no cell specialization in your body, all
your cells would be the same.
This means
You wouldnt have all the different types
of tissues, and thus organs and systems
needed for your body to function as it does.
We would look like one big blob of
homogeneous (same) tissue
(without eyes or a mouth of course!)

What kind of specialized cells are

these?

Tissue
A collection of similar cells that perform a particular
but limited function.
The specialized cells we just looked at, group
together to form one of the following 4 main types
of tissue:
Epithelial
Connective
Muscle
Nerve

Epithelial Tissue
Lines the body cavities, organs and outer surfaces
of body
Protects structures and underlying tissues
Secretes (lubricates) and absorbs nutrients
(intestines)

Connective Tissue
Supports and protects structures
Forms blood
Stores fat
Fills empty space

Muscle Tissue
Allows for movement

Nerve Tissue
Responds to stimuli
Transmits and stores information

Organs
Made up of two or more types of tissue, that work
together to perform a complex life function.

Organ Systems
Contains one or more organs and structures that
work together to perform a vital life function.

Cell Specialization
Activity
Here is what is expected of you